Nevil Shute Norway Foundation

Engineerinr

Models and Fiction - Part 2

THE MODEL ENGINEER   JANUARY 27, 1949

  As a yachtsman I was naturally interested in the schooner, which was specially built for Mr. Norway, so we spent some time looking over that before going to his workshop, and I was told by Mr. Norway that he had made repeated trips abroad in here.
  keeps time-sheets of all the work done, as he has many interruptions and the work of a model often has to be spread over a considerable period. This is an idea which could well be copied by other model engineers, and would show some interesting and surprising results.
The model I went to see was started in Septem- ber, 1944, and was not finished until February 1948, but Mr. Norway visited Burma and
Model built by Nevil Shute Norway
  We then went across the lawns that run right down to the water's edge, to his workshop, which is a converted boathouse. It is a large, picturesque, brick building, rough-cast and painted white, with a fine deep thatched roof. It stands some distance back from the waterfront with a slipway running to it.
  The front part of this building was large enough to house the cruiser, and is now reserved for what Mr. Norway calls "dirty" work. It contains a forge, and electric-driven grinder, a long woodworking bench with vice, and other similar appliances. He is now arranging to have a small electric-driven circular saw installed there as well.
  Behind this there are several rooms, the largest of which is the metal shop. There he has an electric-driven lathe and drill, a hand shaper, assembly bench and metal working bench with vice and other gadgets. All the wheels, cutters and other tools for the lathe, the drills, and the hand tools are neatly stored away in flat cupboards on the walls. The electric motor drives some shafting which, in turn, drives the lathe and drill, and has some extra pulleys for driving models or anything else required. The whole workshop is very neat and orderly, with a place for everything and everything in its place.
  I was particularly interested to see some time-sheets clipped together and hanging on the wall. Upon enquiry I found that Mr. Norway carefully
  America in the meantime. The time-sheets showed that the total number of hours spent on the model was 550, including alterations and making the copper-covered stand on which it has been erected.
  It is a horizontal petrol engine, 1/8 h.p., made from Stuart Turner No. 800 castings, but with considerable modifications. For example, instead of having oilers he has added an oil-pump as shown in the photograph, for which the cover was removed. All the oil-pipes are copper, as also are the tanks. The carburettor is a special one, and he made this from a description given in The Model Engineer.
  It is an exceptionally handsome model and shows some very fine workmanship. It started up easily from cold, without any trouble, and ran beautifully.
  Mr. Norway, who is a very keen member and supporter of the local model engineering societies and clubs, is now planning his next model. This time, as he has such a suitable and sheltered stretch of water available, conveniently joining his place, he is thinking of making a wireless-controlled petrol-driven motor boat. He says it seems a pity not to make use of such a lovely stretch of water when it reaches almost to his workshop.

 
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